61°F
weather icon Mostly Clear

Check out the Golden Knights’ new ‘Reverse Retro’ jersey

Updated November 16, 2020 - 7:09 pm

The Golden Knights didn’t have much history to draw from when the NHL and adidas hockey got together to design “Reverse Retro” jerseys for the league’s 31 teams.

So they looked to Las Vegas’ hockey past instead.

The Knights ’ “Reverse Retro” look, unveiled Monday, contains several nods to the town’s previous professional teams. The sweater’s red color calls back the Las Vegas Wranglers. The jerseys’ striping references the Las Vegas Thunders, and number “95” appears on the back neck because the Thunder’s best season was 1995-96. The number also represents Manon Rheaume, the first woman to play in the NHL, who played for the Thunder during the 1994-95 season.

The Knights’ fourth jersey is their first red one and their only one to feature their secondary logo as the crest. The jersey will be worn in multiple games next season and will be available for purchase Dec. 1. Preorders can be made online at vegasteamstore.com or in-person at City National or T-Mobile Arena.

“Hockey fans love retro jerseys and Reverse Retro is a great opportunity for adidas to work closely with the NHL and all 31 teams to bring back a design from a meaningful point in team history with a unique twist,” said Dan Near, senior director at adidas Hockey. “Our goal from day one has been to work with the NHL and all of the teams to bring creativity, innovation, and energy to the sport with all that we do.”

While the Minnesota Wild, Colorado Avalanche and Carolina Hurricanes’ “Reverse Retro” jerseys pay tribute to previous NHL teams, the Knights’ is an homage to former Las Vegas minor-league teams.

The Thunder were an International Hockey League team that played at Thomas and Mack Center from 1993-99. The ECHL’s Wranglers then arrived in 2003 and played until 2013 in Orleans Arena.

One of the Wranglers’ most notable alumni is defenseman Deryk Engelland, who played for the Knights for the franchise’s first three seasons.

The “Reverse Retro” fit is the Knights their third new sweater of the offseason.

The team already unveiled a gold alternate jersey in October. Then it debuted the sweaters for its new American Hockey League affiliate, the Henderson Silver Knights, on a TV special Nov. 9.

The Knights added yet another new look Monday through the NHL’s first league-wide alternate jersey program. The unveiling helped get the league some attention during a part of the calendar when it’s normally playing. The NHL is still targeting a Jan. 1 start date for the 2021 season.

“NHL team jerseys have long carried deep historical significance for avid and casual hockey fans,” said Brad Jennings, the NHL’s chief brand officer. “Through the years, the design of each team jersey has evolved to balance history and authenticity with cultural touchpoints. The Reverse Retro program is a celebration of the hockey jersey’s confluence of nostalgia, style and broad appeal.”

Contact Ben Gotz at bgotz@reviewjournal.com. Follow @BenSGotz on Twitter.

Don't miss the latest VGK news. Like our Golden Edge page
THE LATEST